What is Children’s Mental Health Week?

Children’s Mental Health Week is similar to the Mental Health Week for adults, but for children and young people. In these tough times people are going through with the COVID crisis, children and young people may feel isolated from friends and may need support through these tough times.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines and however tough things feel now, they will get better. You won’t always feel like this – life may never be perfect but things will definitely get better.

Make sure that before things become overwhelming you talk to someone. Because a problem shared can be less daunting and easier to get through.

Place2Be launched the first ever Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. Now in its seventh year, we hope to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word.

Children’s Mental Health Week 2021 – Express Yourself

From 1-7 February 2021 schools, youth groups, organisations and individuals across the UK will take part in Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is Express Yourself.

Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. This could be through a range of activities such as: art, music, writing and poetry, dance, drama, photography and film, and doing activities that make you feel good.

It’s important to remember that being able to express yourself is not about being the best at something or putting on a performance for others. It is about finding a way to show who you are, and how you see the world, that can help you feel good about yourself.

For Children’s Mental Health Week 2021 we will be encouraging children (and adults) to explore the different ways we can express ourselves, and the creative ways that we can share our feelings, our thoughts and our ideas.

Around three children in every primary school class has a mental health problem, and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement. Whether you’re someone who works with children, a parent or carer, passionate about spreading the word, or keen to raise vital funds for Place2Be, you can help us reach as many people as possible

There is also a video where your child can draw their feelings and you can watch this at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STdJ__8ORyE&feature=youtu.be

As parents and carers we play an important role in teaching children and young people how to understand and manage their feelings as they grow up.

I’m worried about my child or young person

If their life is in immediate danger, call 999.

Here’s some tips for what to do if you’re worried about your child at home

1. Find time in your busy schedules to talk – just the two of you. “Check in” with them while you’re doing things together”, so they get used to talking about their feelings.
2. Play together, as playing makes them curious, learn new things, solve problems and to express themselves with no words.
3. Be a role-model to them by showing them how you cope with difficult feelings and looking after yourself

More tips and who to contact are at this link: https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-services/parents-and-carers/supporting-your-child-s-mental-health/